Precedent work: grid arrangement

I decided to explore this intertwining theme from a new perspective; steering away from the curvaceous form and instead looking at grids and geometric structures. I am interested in how these precedent works use the line formations to direct people through the space, how the installations are functional, the way in which the designers have incorporated lighting to illuminate the product or a space, and the idea that other objects can be integrated or connected to these works.

     http://www.dezeen.com/2012/10/15/bianco-nero-boutique-by-nico-architects/

Garments and accessories are sparingly displayed in a three-dimensional grid of white steel cubes at this boutique in Osaka by NI&Co. Architects. Named Bianco Nero, which translates as 'Black White', the shop has a monochrome colour scheme to complement the selection of clothing on show. Some of the metal cubes contain glass shelves for hats and bags, while items of clothing hang from the horizontal elements. Gaps in the grid create frames for larger items, as well as doorways for shoppers to wander through. The installation is the only shelving within the space, giving it the look of a temporary shop, but designer Nina Funahashi says that she has created "a sustainable and changeable design that can be used for a long period."

     http://www.dezeen.com/2011/08/22/zuo-corp-by-super-super-and-insideoutside/

Polish architects Super Super and Inside/Outside collaborated to design the temporary pavilion inside a mobile office container for clothing retailer Zuo Corp. Mirrors lining the ceilings and walls of a tiny pop-up clothing shop in Warsaw create the illusion of endless rails of garments. Lengths of LED lighting surrounding the edges of the walls are reflected in the mirrors and appear to be part of an infinite illuminated grid. To one side of the sales floor are a storage cupboard and dressing room, which ironically has no mirrors inside at all.

     http://www.yellowtrace.com.au/alexander-wang-flagship-soho-new-york/

Alexander Wang's concept for his flagship store in Soho New York was developed in collaboration with friend and interior designer, Ryan Korban. They worked with architects from Kramer Design to realise the store’s design. True to form, the interior is immaculately beautiful. Minimalist with a tendency toward monochrome, the interior reflects the aesthetic of his label. The piece-de-resistance of the Soho interior is a giant black cage which accommodates a series of rotating installations. The cage is a striking piece of sculpture in itself. Lengths of slender black steel form a gridded, secondary enclosure within the store. The cage sits near the front window but is a space for shoppers to interact with rather than a separate, no-go display space. Each season, the cage sees a new intervention, changing the energy of the interior each time. The quality of the space shifts from being soft and romantic, wildly energetic, formal and structured, playful, haunting and so on. Each of the rotating installations is thoughtful and inventive, with a clear intention of how it relates to the collection, how it transforms the shopper’s experience of the space and how the objects within the space are understood. It’s a progressive example of how visual merchandising can become an art form.